3. TSSC Head Injury Awareness Section:

A. Sports Medicine Clinic Information

The following clinic has a full range of services designed to provide care in the event of a sports-related injury and/or suspected concussion. Please visit their website for further information on hours, sports medicine physicians and therapists:

B. TSSC Concussion Policy

CONCUSSION POLICY FOR TORONTO SPEED SKATING CLUB

Approved by a Board President on January 15, 2018.

PURPOSE

The Toronto Speed Skating Club (TSSC) is committed to maintaining the health of its athletes and believes that an athlete’s health is more important than participating in the sport of speed skating. TSSC recognizes the increased awareness of concussions and their long-term effects and TSSC therefore enacts this Policy as a tool to help manage concussed and possibly-concussed athletes and preserve the health of its members.

SCOPE

This Policy applies to all athletes, coaches, officials, members and decision-makers of the TSSC.

ADHERENCE

TSSC adopts and adheres to Speed Skating Canada’s Return to Play Procedure which includes both the Return to Speed Skating Protocol and concussion guidelines.

PROCEDURE

During all speed skating events, competitions, and practices sanctioned by TSSC, participants (which include coaches, athletes, officials, and other members) will use their best efforts to:

a) Be aware of incidents that may cause a concussion, such as:

Falls

Accidents

iii. Collisions

Head trauma

b) Understand the symptoms that may result from a concussion, such as:

Nausea

Poor concentration

iii. Amnesia

Fatigue

Sensitivity to light or noise

Irritability

vii. Poor appetite

viii. Decreased memory

c) Identify athletes or other individuals who have been involved in any of the above incidents and/or exhibit any of the above symptoms

Athletes or other individuals who have been involved in an incident that may cause a concussion and who may exhibit symptoms of a concussion shall be identified and removed from the speed skating activity.

Following the athlete being removed from the speed skating activity, the athlete’s coach or other individual in charge of the athlete (if the athlete is a minor) or someone familiar to the athlete should:

a) Call an emergency number (if the situation appears serious)

b) Notify the athlete’s parent (if the athlete is a minor) or someone close to the athlete (if the athlete is not a minor)

c) Have a ride home for the athlete arranged

d) Isolate the athlete into a dark room or area

e) Reduce external stimulus (noise, other people, etc)

f) Remain with the athlete until he or she can be taken home

g) Encourage the consultation of a physician

Once the athlete’s immediate needs have been met, the athlete’s family or the athlete should be directed to Speed Skating Canada’s Return to Play Procedure.

RETURN TO SPEED SKATING

An athlete who has been concussed should only return to speed skating activity by following the steps outlined in Speed Skating Canada’s Return to Speed Skating Protocol. An excerpt is provided below, the full reference is available at: http://www.speedskating.ca/concussions-brain-injuries

STEP 1:

Complete cognitive and physical rest. Limit school, work and tasks requiring concentration. Refrain from physical activity until symptoms are gone. Once all symptoms are gone, rest for at least another 24-48 hours and consult a physician, preferably one with experience managing concussion, for clearance to proceed to Step 2.

30 minutes of cycling on a stationary bike at 75% of Max Heart Rate with 30 second maximum effort intervals at minutes 10, 15, and 20.

STEP 5:

Sport-specific aerobic activityand re-introduction of skating: 15 minutes of low intensity skating. If the facility permits, short track athletes should start with long track skating. The environment should be managed so as to ensure the athlete is not in excessive traffic and that there is minimum risk of falling or colliding with other athletes. The athlete may also attempt basic balance drills, such as gliding in basic position on one leg. If the athlete only has access to a short track facility, he or she should skate around the outside, close to the boards with no traffic on the inside.

STEP 6:

30 minutes of skating at 75% of Max Heart Rate with 30 second maximum effort intervals at minutes 10, 15, and 20.

STEP 7:

Regular off-ice warm-up with high intensity off-ice agility/coordination activities and monitored high intensity off-ice and on-ice workout. See Appendix 1.

STEP 8:

Full on-ice practice, including skating in traffic, tactical drills, starts and race simulations once cleared by a physician.

STEP 9:

Return to unrestricted training and competition

MEDICAL CLEARANCE

Speed Skating Canada’s Return to Speed Skating Protocol requires the athlete to consult with a physician at two stages: a) before returning to light aerobic exercise, and b) before resuming full on-ice practice.

TSSC agrees with Speed Skating Canada’s Return to Speed Skating Protocol and will require the athlete to obtain medical clearance, ideally from a physician familiar with concussions, before permitting the athlete to resume speed skating activity with the club.

C. Concussions in Speed Skating

TSSC endorses the Safety and Concussion section of the Speed Skating Canada site and recommends that all Coaches, Officials, Athletes, Parents or Caregivers consult that site on a regular basis. In the event of a suspected concussion, your child should be assessed, provided follow-up care and cleared by a physician experienced in dealing with concussions before returning to skating. Clearance must be provided in the form of a physician’s note before a skater can return to skating.

4. Liability and Disclaimer

Legal Disclaimer, Limit of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranty:

Toronto Speed Skating Club (hereafter “The Club”) makes no representations, warranties, guarantees or endorsements of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, content, views, opinions, recommendations, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the information contained on this web page, or in any documents or links contained in it, for any purpose. Every precaution has been taken to provide accurate information and is for informational purposes only. This information is accepted on the condition that errors or omissions shall not be made the basis for any claim, demand or cause for action. Any reliance you place on this web page is therefore strictly at your own risk and is your responsibility to perform due diligence before acting upon any of the information provided. The Club does not accept any liability for loss or damage, including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever, in connection with the use of the information and/or web page. No reader should act on the basis of anything contained in this web page, without considering the relevance and appropriateness of the information to the individual participants involved. All liabilities are expressly disclaimed for any loss or damage that may arise from any person acting on any statement or information contained in this web page or any links or documents therein.

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